My brother frowns, inhaling deeply. “What happened with the two of you? After I talked to him… ”
Twisting my lips, I chew on the inside of my cheek for a moment and drop my gaze down to my hands in my lap. “I went over to his house after you talked to him and had dinner and he was acting strange. He told me about your conversation and that he needed to let me go, but I also realized that I deserve more than just fleeting moments with someone.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing at first and then as I was walking away, he decided that he suddenly knew what he wanted.” I run my tongue over my top teeth, lifting my eyes back up to meet my brother’s. “I told him he needed to take the time to really think about what he wants and if he wants something real with me.”
“I think the whole thing with you scared him,” Noah says softly, lifting his shoulders into a small shrug. “I think the two of you got too close and he wanted to push you away, to protect you both.”
“He has it in his head that he’s going to let everyone down—me, in this particular situation.”
“No one is perfect, he can’t expect for there to not be moments where it might feel as though you’ve each failed at something.” Noah tilts his head to the side. “He’s a goddamn idiot.”
Staring at my brother, I inhale deeply, my chest expanding before I release the heavy breath. “He’s not the only one who’s afraid to fail someone.” It’s time I come clean with everyone. It’s time the truth comes out. “I lied to you and Finn about vet school.”
Noah’s forehead creases. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t willingly take the year off,” I admit, my voice barely audible. “I didn’t get in.”
Noah stares at me, his eyebrows lifting, just as Finn steps out onto the porch as if he heard me say his name.
“Family meeting without me?”
I shake my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “Noah and I were talking about Jace.” I wet my lips. “And how I wasn’t accepted into vet school.”
Finn leans against the doorway. “I thought you were taking the year off?”
“No,” I admit quietly, shaking my head. “I wasn’t accepted, so I decided I would come home to regroup. I think I’d always been lying to myself. Becoming a veterinarian was a childhood dream. One I clung to. ”
“It’s not what you want to do, is it?” Noah asks.
Shaking my head, I look back and forth between my brothers. “It’s not. I’m happy here, back in the Hollow managing the store. I’m honestly happier than I’ve been in years.”
Noah stares at me thoughtfully, his head bobbing as he nods slowly. “Then that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah,” Finn adds, nodding his head. “We don’t care what you decide to do, as long as you’re happy.”
Noah’s eyes meet mine. “And that also includes who you’re with.” He lets out a sigh. “If Jace is who makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.”
Finn’s brow furrows. “Wait, what?”
“Jace and Willow have a thing for each other, but he is being a dumbass about it.”
“Want me to beat him up?” Finn asks, a smirk tugging on his lips.
A soft laugh slips from my lips and I shake my head at both of them. “No, thank you. I appreciate the sentiment, but I think it’s better if we all act like adults about this.”
“So, what happened?” Finn asks, his eyes bouncing back and forth between Noah and me. “Did things end badly?”
“It kind of came to a stand-off. Jace doesn’t think he can give me what I deserve and I am not willing to accept anything less than that.” The thorns cut into my heart. “I told him that every relationship is a gamble and it’s up to him whether or not he wants to risk it.”
Finn mulls over my words, slowly bobbing his head. “You’re right. No one can predict what will happen. You can’t expect things to be easy, you just have to be willing to put in the work and make things happen.”
“I feel like this is my fault,” Noah says quietly.
“It’s not. This would have happened eventually and I’m glad it did now, before our feelings became too intertwined.”
“He’s always loved you, Will,” Finn chimes in. “He’ll come to his senses when he realizes what he’s really losing here.”
